Recently, I had a conversation with the Head of a small international school with what some may see as more limited resources. I learned more about the school, the community, and its vision and direction. At one point, he told me a story about a student who applied, and someone in his student support department came to inform him they could not accept the student as there was no space.
“We are taking the kid, how long is the landing strip?”
That was his response. That told me almost everything I wanted to learn about who he is as a leader, what he values, and the direction and vision for the school. Those eleven words told the story.
Isn’t that how it is? Schools, individuals, and organizations all present a picture of who they are, what they value, and where they’re headed. But the real story is in the small things. The day-to-day decisions, the comments, the responses, the priorities, and yes, the money. What this school leader demonstrated is that he was committed. He hates telling kids and families “no.” He was ready and willing to find a way to accept this student.
These types of commitments are found in the daily moments, the tough decisions, and the outside-the-box thinking. They’re found in the willingness, openness, and dedication in those moments. As we tout our commitment to inclusion in our communities, let’s consider what shows up in the small moments across our campuses, classrooms, and offices. What shows up in our discussions, in our language, and in what seem to be menial decisions? Taking a moment to consider the story these moments tell, can help guide us in the way forward.
*Thank you to this wonderful HOS for your commitment to inclusion and for inspiring this post*